Language Immersion Opportunities at Penobscot School

Italian for Travelers, Spanish, French, Russian and Japanese Immersions at Penobscot School in Rockland, Maine.

Penobscot School, Midcoast Maine's non-profit center for language learning and cultural exchange, is offering a wide variety of immersions this spring. Language immersions are for those who want a concentrated learning experience focused on conversational skills. Students can expect to gain self-confidence as they practice listening and speaking. Using word games, songs, cultural presentations and preparation of meals, students "live in" the target language just as if they were in a foreign country. The school offers both one-day and weekend-long immersions.

On April 26 and May 3, Ginevra Geraci of Rome will lead Italian for Travelers, a course for beginners and advanced beginners which runs on two consecutive Saturdays. For those at an intermediate level, she will have an Italian weekend May 30 - June 1.

Also on April 26, Mario Villa from Mexico will teach a Spanish Day for advanced beginners. The Spanish department's schedule also lists: Spanish Saturday for Beginners, May 10 and Spanish Weekend, June 6-8. The French department's schedule lists: French Saturday for Beginners, May 3 and French Weekend, June 13-15. Both events will be led by Carima Lazreg, a native of La Seyne sur Mer in southeastern France. The June course is titled: "un weekend provencal." The final spring French Cooking Workshop with Elisabeth Newmeyer is on Saturday, May 17, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Taught in French and English, with recipes available, the cooking class ends with a shared meal.

Also featured at the School this Spring is a Russian Workshop for Advanced Beginners, Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., led by Julie von Kamecke and native-speaker Julianna Gerrity. For Japanese: Japanese Day for Beginners, Saturday, May 17, led by Sachiko Clough. Participants of these can expect discussion of culture, folk customs and food, as well as language exercises.

Immersion Saturdays are held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Immersion weekends run from 5:00 p.m. Friday to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, and include lodging and meals. Intermediate courses are taught exclusively in the target language; beginner courses include some English. For more information, please contact Penobscot School at 207-594-1084, or visit on the web at www.languagelearning.org.

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